Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c8.5

c8.5

theart of polity and as the author of all the floating wisdom on the subject of Nīti." Both the scholars think that "we might abide by the third century as the probable date of the Arthaśāstra." It is possible to controvert this conclusion, but it is impossible dogmatically to fix any other date. To the student of institutions, the uncertainty is a severe handicap. For the student of political theory the safest course is to start with the working assumption that the work existed in third century A.D.¹ Whatever the date of Kautalya, it must be admitted that he has in mind not a huge empire like the Mauryan but a congeries of small states such as generally filled the plains and tablelands of India. He covers every branch of administration but he